If you are one of those people who suffer from dry, flaky skin under your eyes, you might be interested in a new beauty trend that has been making waves on TikTok: skin sealing. This technique claims to hydrate and soothe the delicate eye area with a simple trick that involves a moisturizer and a cling film. But what exactly is skin sealing and how effective is it? Here is everything you need to know about this viral trend.
What Is Skin Sealing?
Skin sealing is a method that involves applying a thin layer of moisturizer under your eyes and covering it with a cling film for at least 15 minutes. The idea is to create a barrier that prevents water loss and allows the skin to absorb all the benefits of the moisturizer. Some people also use reusable eye patches or masks instead of cling film to seal in the cream.
The term “skin sealing” was coined by Refinery29 after dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss shared a video on TikTok responding to influencer Mikayla Nogueira, who was looking for tips to deal with her dry under eyes. Dr. Idriss suggested that she use any moisturizer she had and cover it with cling film for 15 minutes. She claimed that this would help hydrate and plump up the skin under her eyes.
The video went viral and many people tried out the technique and shared their results online. Some users reported seeing visible improvements in their under eye area, while others said they did not notice any difference.
What Are The Benefits Of Skin Sealing?
According to Dr. Batul Patel, medical director of The Bombay Skin Clinic, skin sealing can help treat dry, scaly skin under the eyes by providing intense hydration. She told Vogue India that “the cling film helps trap moisture and prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which is the loss of water from the skin to the environment.”
She added that skin sealing can also help reduce puffiness and dark circles by improving blood circulation and lymphatic drainage in the eye area. She said that “the pressure of the cling film or eye patch can help stimulate blood flow and reduce fluid retention, which can cause puffiness and dark circles.”
However, she also cautioned that skin sealing is not a permanent solution and should not replace a regular eye care routine. She said that “skin sealing can provide temporary relief, but it does not address the root cause of dryness or aging in the eye area. You still need to use an eye cream daily that contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, peptides, antioxidants, and retinol to nourish and protect your eye area.”
Is Skin Sealing Safe?
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While skin sealing may sound like an easy and inexpensive way to pamper your under eyes, it is not without risks. Dr. Patel warned that skin sealing can cause irritation, allergies, or infections if not done properly or with the right products. She said that “you need to be careful about what moisturizer you use for skin sealing, as some ingredients can be too harsh or occlusive for the sensitive eye area. You should avoid products that contain alcohol, fragrance, essential oils, acids, or exfoliants.”
She also advised that you should not leave the cling film or eye patch on for too long or too often, as this can suffocate your skin and cause more harm than good. She said that “you should limit skin sealing to once or twice a week for 15 minutes at most. You should also make sure that the cling film or eye patch is clean and sterile before using it, as any dirt or bacteria can cause infections.”
She also suggested that you do a patch test before trying out skin sealing to see how your skin reacts to it. She said that “you should apply a small amount of moisturizer on your inner arm and cover it with cling film for 15 minutes. If you experience any redness, itching, burning, or swelling, you should not use that product for skin sealing.”
Conclusion
Skin sealing is a new beauty trend that involves applying a moisturizer under your eyes and covering it with a cling film or an eye patch for 15 minutes. It claims to hydrate and soothe the dry under eye area and reduce puffiness and dark circles. However, it is not a permanent solution and it can cause irritation or infection if not done properly or with the right products. You should consult your dermatologist before trying out this technique and follow their advice on how to do it safely